Wednesday, November 18, 2009

International GIS Day

This week is Geography Awareness Week, and today (November 18) in particular is International GIS Day.

You're first reaction to this might be "What is GIS?". According to wikipedia: "In simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography and database technology." I only know because I'm married to someone who once regaled with stories about GIS fun at uni. Alison now uses GIS regularly at work and was so excited about today that she baked a cake.

Anyway, all of this was kind of a rationale for me to post this classic clip from The West Wing about maps:



UPDATE: Here is Alison's post on International GIS Day

8 comments:

Alison said...

Yeah! Best West Wing moment ever.

Technically it is only Geography Awareness Week in America. But it is International GIS day everywhere! (on earth at least)

byron smith said...

I love that clip!

Peters Projection all the way! And South on top and Pacific-centred. That's the map I want to see!

byron smith said...

Now who's living at the arse end of the world? :-)

Matthew Moffitt said...

We have an upside down, Pacific centered, Peters Projection map in the CMS office.

Mike Bull said...

The Chinese will keep it top heavy.

byron smith said...

Sorry Mike, I'm not sure I follow.

Unknown said...

I realise I'm a bit late -but at SPRTE (aka NTE) last year, they gave out IFES maps of the world -and these use the Peters Projection (although with a north-top orientation).

I was really excited when I got it, having seen the West Wing scene.

Matthew Moffitt said...

@Nicholas: Those maps are pretty cool. We only have a dodgy print out in the CMS office.